Shami’s Return Looks Promising, Akash Deep Out for a Month

Pacer Mohammed Shami is on track for a return to the Indian team for their upcoming series against England, with a possible inclusion for the Champions Trophy as well. The veteran pacer has been sidelined since the World Cup final in November 2023, but he has recently resumed playing white-ball cricket and is expected to be fit for the national squad. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical team has been closely monitoring his recovery process.

Shami had undergone surgery on his right heel, which has since healed. However, he experienced minor knee swelling that ruled him out of contention for the later stages of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Recently, Shami has returned to action, playing a few games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Bengal, and is set to feature again in the pre-quarterfinal against Haryana in Baroda this Thursday. His return to full fitness comes as a major boost for India’s bowling attack ahead of key international fixtures.

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Shami’s Fitness Monitored Ahead of Return; Akash Deep, Bumrah, and Siraj Set to Miss England Series

As per the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), pacer Mohammed Shami is under close observation by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical team, with at least one NCA physio or trainer accompanying him wherever he goes. Recently, NCA staff were present when Shami played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy in Rajkot, and an NCA physio was also seen overseeing both Shami and Hardik Pandya during their time in Hyderabad. This constant monitoring is to ensure Shami’s fitness ahead of his potential return to the Indian team.

The selection committee members are expected to attend the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockout matches in Baroda to closely evaluate Shami’s performance. Initial signs suggest that Shami’s bowling is unaffected, and he seems to be free from any major injury concerns. Though the NCA’s approval is required for his return to international cricket, there is growing optimism surrounding his recovery and readiness for upcoming series, including the Champions Trophy.

Meanwhile, pacer Akash Deep is set to miss the upcoming white-ball series against England due to a back injury that kept him out of the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney. He is expected to be sidelined for at least a month and will report to the NCA or the newly named Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru upon returning to India. Additionally, with Akash Deep unavailable, India will also miss pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj for the T20I series against England. Both pacers bowled heavy workloads during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and will rest to ensure their availability for future commitments, including the Champions Trophy.

The situation with Jasprit Bumrah remains uncertain as selectors are waiting for a report from the NCA management. Although there are hopes for him to be fit in time for the Champions Trophy (February 19–March 9), Bumrah, who was unable to bowl in the second innings of the SCG Test due to back spasms, will need clearance from the NCA before being considered for selection. He is expected to report to the NCA soon for further assessment.

The selection committee is expected to convene around the BCCI AGM (January 12) to finalize the teams for the upcoming white-ball series against England and to announce a provisional squad for the Champions Trophy. England is set to play five T20Is and three ODIs from January 22 to February 12, with squad selections for both series crucial for India’s preparations for the major ICC tournament.

Easwaran Available for Bengal, No Chahal for Haryana

The Bengal team management has confirmed to IPLbookmakers that Abhimanyu Easwaran will be available for Thursday’s knockout match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Easwaran, who was part of the Indian team in Australia, had his return expedited by a day so that he could join Bengal for the crucial match. The opener has already arrived in Baroda, ready to contribute to his team’s campaign.

On the other hand, Haryana, the defending champions of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, will be without their key white-ball specialist, Yuzvendra Chahal. The leg-spinner, currently facing a personal crisis, has been excluded from the squad. However, a Haryana Cricket Association (HCA) official clarified that this decision was purely cricketing and not related to his personal issues.

The HCA official mentioned that the exclusion was made in consultation with Chahal, with the aim to focus on developing young talent for the future. Parth Vats, a promising leg-spin all-rounder, will be making his debut in place of Chahal as Haryana looks to bring fresh blood into their squad.